§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are at present employed by his Department to deal specifically with applications for British citizenship; and how this compares with a period five years ago and 10 years ago, respectively.
§ Mr. Raison195 staff are currently employed in the nationality division and it is hoped to increase this number shortly in view of the delays in dealing with applications for naturalisation and registration. The number in January 1970 was 93, and in January 1975, when the staff were temporarily increased to deal with applications for citizenship made under the transitional provisions of the Pakistan Act 1973, it was 275.